Bunch transfer for cigar machines



Dec. w, 1930. J. F HALSTEAD 11,786,6QJ8

BUNCH TRANSFER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed April 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet lFig. 2.

I g 44a 4? 196 ATTORN EY Dec. 3@, 1930. J. F. HALSTEAD fi fiw BUNCHTRANSFER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed April 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEY atented Dec. 30, 1930 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN F.HALSTETAD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL CIGARMACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BUNCH SFER FOR CIGARMACHINES Application filed April 21,

This invention relates to bunch transfers for cigar machines, its mainobject being to make the performance of these devices more dependableand, particularly, to improve the action of their grippers.

In acigar machine, the cigar bunch issuing from the rolling apron, onwhich the binder is applied to the filler charge, must be transferred inits various stages of manufacture from one mechanism after the otherbefore it reaches the wrapper applying device and the final finishingroller, and becomes a finished cigar. Some of these mechanisms are inline with one another axially with respect to the bunch, while othersare aligned transversely to the same, so that some of the transfers mustcarry the cigar bunch in the direction of its axis, while others mustcarry it at right angles thereto. It is accordingly an object of theinvention to provide transfer means for carrying the cigars in thesetwoways.

In cigar bunch transfers heretofore employed, the opening operation ofthe grippers, performed by stationary cam tracks placed in the path ofthe transfer arm or other mechanisms, required an appreciable portion ofthe transfer movement so that in depositing a bunch, the grippers, inorder to be wide open at the end of the stroke of the transfer arm, hadto start opening some distance before the bunch had reached itsdestination, so that in case of a bunch thinner than the average forwhich the gripper mechanism was adjusted, the bunch in delivery wasliable to fall out of the transfer too soon.

In collection, as the grip of the gripper eleof a double acting springin such a manner i that the opening and closing operations of .lelmotion means, such as an endless chain 1928. Serial No. 271,878.

oted at a point half way between the two successive mechanisms, so thatthe path described by the bunch is a circular arc. The block carryingthe grippers is rotatably attachcd to the free end of the swingingtransfer arm and is controlled by suitable paral-' swinging on astationary sprocket mounted on the pivot shaft of the transfer arm, soas to maintain the cigar bunch in the same relative position during itsentire travel. In some of the mechanisms, however, the bunch is held byparts which project above the same, so that to avoid interference andconsequent damage to the bunch, the latter must be put into place fromabove and taken out by lifting it upward, and it therefore becomesnecessary to correct the circular path of the bunch so as to clear avertical line for a small distance at the end of the stroke near such amechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to rectify the path end for thepurpose stated, and this is accomplished by means of special mounting ofthe transfer arm and of special arrangement of the parallel motiondevice of the gripper supporting block as described 5 I hereafter.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain constructions and combinations which willbe hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in theclaims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the improved bunch transfer arranged formovement lengthwise of thecigar bunch, the full lines showin the midposition and the dotted lines the end positions of the transfer arm;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section, shown atmiddle position;

Fig. 3 is a top view, partly in section, of the finger mechanism atmiddle position;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the transfer arm atan end position, thefull lines showing its initial position on picking up a bunch, and thedotted lines showing its position after lifting the bunch clear of theforward bunch holder;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of a modification of the improvedfinger mechanism arranged for crosswise movement of the cigar bunch;

Fig. 6 is a sectional front elevation of the creisswise finger mechanismshown in Fig. 5; an

Figs. 7, 9, 11 and 13 are side elevations and Figs. 8, 10, 12 and 14 aresectional front elevations, respectively, showing the finger mechanismof the lengthwise transfer in four 20 different positions.

In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided an arm mountedfor oscillation, bunch grippers carried by said arm, and means foroscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch andmechanism carried by the free end of said arm for operating saidgrippers. In the best constructions contemplated, the arm has means formaintaining the grippers in pendant position during the arm oscillation.In the best constructions also, the mechanism for operating the grippersincludes a cam and one of the grippers has a pin engaging said cam, andmeans are provided for controlling the action of said cam on the pin.The means above referred to may be widely varied in constructions withinthe scope of the claims, for the particular machine selected toillustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments of thesame. The invention is, therefore, not to be restricted to the precisedetails of the structure shown and described. I

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, an arm 15 pivoted on a shaft 16 carries thecigar bunch B by means of two bunch grippers 17 and 18, swingablysuspended as a unit from the free end of the arm. One of these grippers17 is relatively stationary, being fixedly attached to a square headblock 19 on the end of a shaft20, while the other gripper 18 is pivotedon the two horizontally projecting ends of a pin 21 in the head block19.

To oscillate the arm 15 to cause the gripper to transport the bunch, thearm 15 is clamped on shaft 16 supported by a'pedestal 22 and oscillatedby a rack 23 driven from the cigar machine and actin on a gear segment24 mounted on the sha t 16. The cigar bunch is made to travel along thearcuate path of the transfer arm in a horizontal position by means oftwo sprockets 25 and 26, connected by an endless chain 27 having a chaintight- ,ener spring 28. One 'of the sprockets 25 is adjustably attachedto the shaft support.-

ing the grippers; the other sprocket 26 is loosely mounted on the pivotshaft 16, but is prevented from turning by two pins 29 in the face ofpedestal 22. If the pins 29 are fitted tightly into the correspondingholes in the sprocket 26, the cigar bunch on starting the forward motionof the transfer arm, will travel in a horizontal position on the arcuatepath 30 shown in Fig. 1, provided that the sprockets 25 and 26 are ofthe same diameter.

In case the bunch rests in a holder 31, which projects vertically aboveit, such holder will interfere with the path 30 and the bunch must thenbe lifted up to clear the holder. For this purpose, the holes for thepins 29 in sprocket 26 are elongated or made larger in diameter than thepins, as shown in Fig. 4. In this case, the sprocket 26 turns with thearm 15, and the bunch is swung in a circular path about the shaft 16 asthough fixed to arm 15, until the sprocket 26 is stopped by the rearsides of the enlarged holes engaging the pins 29, whereupon the bunchcontinues its movement in a position slightly out of horizontal sinceits rear end has been carried up higher than its forward end. Since thebunch must reach its destination in the next mechanism in a horizontalposition, the diameter of sprocket 26 is made larger than the diameterof'sprocket 25 by an amount just sufficient to turn the bunch back intoits original position by the time it arrives at the other end of thetransfer stroke. Two stop pins 33 and 34, which engage adjustable screws35 and 36 in the transfer arm, locate the transfer in the correctpositions at the ends of the transfer stroke.

The movable gripper 18 is equipped with two pins or studs, 37 and 38,secured thereto, the pin 38 projecting from a portion of the gripperalong the axis of its pivot 21. The pin 37 which is fixed to themidportion of the gripper 18, is ball-headed and is guided by a cam 39which is loosely mounted on the gripper shaft 20, but is fastened to theswinging arm 15 for movement therewith by means of a pin 40, and thiscam has an inside and outside cam track communicating by slots 41 and 42in the shell 43 of the cam. The other pin 38 of the gripper 18 isengaged by one end of a coiled torsion spring 44 surrounding theshaft 20and having two radially projecting ends which are normally only slightlyseparated, as shown in Figs. 10 and 14, the pin 38 projecting betweenthese ends. The other end of the spring than that engaging the pin 38bears against the pin or stud 45 fixed with respect to the arm 15projecting from the cam 39, and this pin also projects between theprojecting ends of the spring 44. According to the direction of themotion of the arm 15, either the one end of the spring 44 or the otherengages the pin 38, the pin 45 tending to pull the pin 38 after it inresponse to the movement of the oscillating arm 15, the spring acting asa yieldable connection between the two pins,as shown in Figs.7to14. Oneend of the spring bears on the pin 38 in such a direction asv to forcethe pin 37 from the outer cam track to the inner, and the other endof'the track acts to force the pin 37 from the inner track to the outer,so that the gripper 18 is caused to open or close by the cam 39,according to the direction of the force from thespring 44. The gripperopening and closing mechanisms being contained in the transfer armitself, stationary outside cams are eliminated and accidents due totheir presence are obviated. The pins 37, 38 and 45, and the cam slots41 and 42, are so located, as shown in Figs 7 to 14, that movement ofpin 37 and therefore gripper 18 occurs at the ends of the transfermotion of arm 15, just as the arm starts in the other.

. neutral position between the two ends of spring 44. The resiliency ofgripper 17 also serves to adjust the gripper pressure on'the bunch forvariations in bunch thickness and differences in tobacco quality orcondition.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a modification of the improved transfer is shown,suitable for carrying the cigar bunch in cross-wise position, in adirection perpendicular to its axis. In this arrangement, the pivot pin21 is omitted and a movable gripper is loosely pivoted on gripper shaft20a which extends beyond the head block 19a fastened to the end of thepivot pin. A long pin 46 fastened to the arm 15a in parallel relation tothe gripper shaft 20a, extending into the path of the grippers butclearing the same due to notches 53 therein, extends inwardly betweenthe radially diverging ends of the coil torsion spring 42, surroundingthe shaft 20a. In this modified form, the cam 39 is replaced by twolatchpieces 47 and 48, placed in two inclined grooves 49 and 50 of thehead block 19a, and corresponding to the inner anc outer tracks of cam39. These latch-pieces are pivoted on pins 51 in the head block 19a andare held in tension by two compression springs 52 imbedded in theinclined grooves. They serve to stop the pin 46 from entering into thegroove and to guide it into the other groove at the end of each stroke,when, according to the direction of the pres sure exerted on the pin 46by the torsion spring 44, and when at the same time either one or theother latch-piece is turned on its pivot by the pin 45 on the arm 15a,as will be seen from inspection of Fig. 6. Movement to the other grooveand the resultant operation of the grippers is caused by the pin 45amoving with the arm 15a in a path about the head block to a point whereit engages one of the latch-pieces above its pivot to move the latch andrelease the pin 46.

In the position shown in Fig. 6, the grippers are closed and the movablegripper 18a is under tension from torsion spring 44a, tending to openthe gripper by means of the pin 46, but is retained by the latch-piece47 until the bunch arrives at the end of the delivery stroke and thelatch-piece 47 engages the stationary pin 45a, whereby the pin 46 isfreed and the gripper 18 opens and releases the bunch. This conditioncorresponds to the position of the lengthwise transfer shown in Figs. 1'and 2 and in Figs. 13 and 14.

In Figs. 7 and 8, showing four different positions in the operation ofthe lengthwise transfer device, the cigar bunch has just been deliveredand the transfer arm 15 is starting to swing back in the direction ofthe arrow shown in Fig. 8. In this position of the gripper mechanism,the pin 37 has just been forced to enter the inner camtrack through theslot 41 by the pressure of the forward end of the spring 44 on the underside of the pin 38, while the rearward end of the spring 44 bearsagainst the stationary pin 45, thereby opening the gripper 18.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the transfer arm 15 is in the mid position of itsreturn swing. The grippers are still open, though the pin 38 is nowunder tension to close the gripper 18 by the pressure of the rearwardend of the spring 44 on its upper side, with the forward end of thespring 44 resting on the pin 45. The gripper 18 is held in the openposition by the pin 37 which is retained by the shell 43 of the cam 39until, at the end of the return stroke, it has reached the slot 42, whenthe spring 44 forces it out of the cam, thus causing the gripper 18 toclose and grip the cigar bunch B, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

In Figs. 13 and 14, finally,-the transfer arm 15 is shown in the midposition of its forward stroke. The finger 18 is still closed, but nowis under tension to open through the pressure of the forward end of thespring 44 on the under side of the pin 38. It is restrained from openingby the pin 37 which bears against the shell 43 of the cam 39 until thecigar bunch has arrived in its delivery position (Figs. 7 and 8), whenthe pin 37 registers with the slot 41 and is forced to enter the cam,thereby opening the finger 18 and releasing the cigar bunch.

In the cross-wise transfer shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the performance ofthe grippers is identical with that of the lengthwise transfer. In Viewof the explanation of the operation given in connection with Figs. 7 to14, further description of the operation of the form shown in Figs. 5and 6 is deemed unnecessary and in omitted in the interest of brevity.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, and spring actuated mechanismcarried by the free end of said arm for quickly opening and closing saidgrippers.

2. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination With an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism carried by the freeend of said arm for operating said grippers, said arm havin means formaintaining the grippers in su stantially vertical pendant positionduring arm oscillation.

3. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippersv carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism carried by the freeend of said arm for operating said grippers, said arm having sprocketsand a chain for maintaining the grippers in pendant position during armoscillation.

l. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch,

and mechanism carried by the free end of said arm for operating saidgrippers, said arm having sprockets and achain having a limited freemovement for maintaining the grippers in pendant position during armoscillation and for providing a limited tilting movement of a bunchduring the first part of the arm oscillation.

5. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism carried by the freeend of said arm for operating said grippers, said mechanism including acam and one of said grippers having a pin engaging said cam, and meanscontrolling the action of said cam on said pin.

6. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means foroscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism carried by the freeend of said arm for operating said grippers, said mechanism including acam and one of said grippers having a pin engaging said cam, a studcarried by said gripper, a second stud carried by said cam, and a springengaging said studs and operating to control the action of said cam onsaid pin.

7. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism carried by the freeend of said arm for operating said grippers, said mechanism including acam having an inner and an outer track with two passages connectingmeaeea said tracks and. one of said grip ers having a pin engaging saidcam, a stu' carried by said gripper, a second stud carried by said cam,and a spring engaging said studs and operating to cause said pin to passfrom the inner track tothe outer track at one end of the arm oscillationand from the outer track to the inner track at the other end of the armoscillation.

8. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, mechanism on the free end of saidarm for instantaneously operating said grippers and means controllingsaid mechanism for actuation only when the bunch is at its initial andfinal positions.

9. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, quick acting mechanism on the freeend of said arm tending to operate said grippers, and means preventingoperation of said mechanism except at the extreme end of eachoscillation of the arm.

10. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunchgrippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to causesaid grippers to transport a bunch, means for maintaining said grippersin pendant position during oscillation of said arm, and trip mechanismincluding an element fixed to one of said grippers and an element fixedto said arm and operated by relative movement of said elements toinstantaneously operate said grippers at the extreme end of eachoscillation of the arm.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN F. HALSTEAD.

